Home Care vs. Assisted Living

March 7, 2018

984 views

3 minute read

When your parents need assistance with their daily life, what choices do you have? You can hire homecare and have them come to your parents’ home for in-home care. Or, you can have a conversation with them about moving into assisted living.

What about home care?

When trying to decide which type of care would be suitable for your parents, consider the pros and cons of homecare. Caring People Home Care 101 page covers the topic in dept. The pros and cons of home care are:

Pros

You will be able to stay in your own home.

A homecare professional cares you for.

Home care may be less expensive than other options presented.

Because of having in-home care, feelings of helplessness and depression can be avoided.

If Alzheimer’s or dementia is the concern, the being in a familiar surrounding can help produce feelings of calm and peacefulness.

Cons

If you’re being cared for by a loved one, as your dependency increases, it may put a strain on them having to care for you.

Home care can eat up a large piece of your insurance and savings because it can be costly,

Home care is provided by strangers and some of them you may not enjoy their company.

Your home may not be suitable or adaptable as your mobility changes and your physical abilities deteriorate.

If there’s a medical emergency, there may be a problem reaching you in time.

What about assisted living?

Sometimes, when your parents can’t live in their home anymore, or it’s too much for them, then assisted living is the answer. The pros and cons of assisted living are:

Pros

It can be a relief to your parents not to have to deal with all maintenance and upkeep that owning a home entails

Assisted living may be lower in cost than other options depending on where your parents live.

Because assisted living is designed with various levels of assistance when needed, your parents still can maintain a level of independence. As increased care is necessary, they can effortlessly move onto the next level of care.

Social interaction is encouraged at most living assisted facilities.

Cons

Your parents may find that adapting to a new environment is difficult and may miss their old home.

Assisted living isn’t the least expensive of the options, but it’s not the most expensive either.

In some facilities, there are semi-private rooms with roommates. If parents have lived by themselves for a time, there may be a problem adjusting.

If your parents have a pet, some facilities allow pets to be brought to the residence. Other assisted living facilities, on the other hand, do not permit pets.

So, in-home care permits your parents to age in place in their home that they’re familiar and comfortable with. Assisted living has 24hour support if needed and constant supervision. So, plan out the research and decide which one will suit your parents’ needs.